Alex scratched a red rash on his arm. It was really stinging now and he tried not to touch it. He looked back into the forest. He must have brushed past some sort of poisonous plant. Suddenly there was a fluttering sound behind his ears. Something had startled the birds. He heard voices whispering his name.
"Who's there?" he called. No answer.
Suddenly he felt cold.
"This isn't funny." He said. "Get out here you guys."
There was silence.
"Fidget?"
Something hissed.
"Grinder, is that you?"
Something growled in an inhuman tongue.
"Rikki, are you out there?"
Someone laughed.
"Ok Brandon, that's enough…"
Shadows started moving through the forest.
"Ok, X. I know you're out there. Cut that out."
The voices kept whispering in words he couldn't understand. Then the shadows started growing bigger, or was he getting smaller?
He turned and ran through the shadows.
A voice snarled "You cannot run…"
He watched as a dark shadow flew over him. It looked like some kind of gigantic bird. There was a piercing scream as the shadow flew past him and landed in front of him. The shadow towered over him.
"Alright, this isn't funny anymore." Alex said. "Who the heck are you and what do you want with me?"
The shadows red eyes stared into his. It bent down so it's black, pointed beak was just inches from his nose. It spoke slowly. "Please, do not be frightened of us. We mean you no harm. You are safe from our claws." The red eyes were still staring into his, boring into his mind. It was starting to creep him out.
"What do you want with me?" Alex finally said.
"That rash on your arm…" the shadow said. "We wish to see it."
"So all you want is a stupid rash?" Alex was confused. "And who is 'we'? are there other weird things like you?"
" 'We' refers to us. The shadows. That is what we are." As the shadow said this, other shadows appeared out of the darkness.
"So what does all this have to do with me? And this rash?" Alex said.
"Because of that rash," the shadow said, "You shall become like us. The Shadows."
"But…but how?" Alex said.
"There is much you do not understand, and much to explain." The shadow said. "Be careful. Don't become the Shadow."
The Shadows started fading.
"Wait! How do I stop this? How did this happen…?" Alex called out to them.
But the Shadow only said: "Remember, do not become the shadow…Watch out for the black cross…"
The Shadows faded completely and light came back into the forest. Alex found himself on the ground. He looked up and realized that the red rash had gone. Had he fallen asleep? Was it all just a dream?